Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences
E/CN.4/2006/61/Add.3 para 75 (b)
Full recommendation:
In order to promote and support the empowerment of women in all spheres of life, it is
recommended that the Government:
Institute special measures to increase women’s political participation and appoint more women
to high-level government positions;
Assessment using Impact Iran human rights indicators1
In general, the structures of the Islamic Republic do not allow the presence of women for some
senior positions. For this reason, the field of women's political participation is limited to certain
positions.
For example, women are completely prohibited from holding the position of Supreme Leader,
Iran’s Head of State.2 Candidates for the presidency in Iran must be what the Constitution refers
to as “Rajol-E-Siasi” (“political men”).3 Though many argue that the phrase as a whole could be
understood as “political persons,” without a specification as to gender, the Guardian Council of
the Constitution, (body mandated to bring parliamentary resolutions in line with Sharia Law and
the Constitution and to oversee elections) has never approved a woman to stand in presidential
elections4 or in elections to the Assembly of Experts (The body that is mandated to appoint the
Supreme Leader and monitor him). Additionally, no woman has ever served on the Guardian
Council itself or the Expediency Council (body which serves as the Supreme Leader's advisory
arm, formulating "general policies for the state" and overseeing the implementation of those
policies on the behalf of the Supreme Leader).5
However, despite these limitations, the policies of some government administrations in the
Islamic Republic are different. For example, in the government of Hassan Rouhani, executive
orders were issued in this regard. In his decree, Hassan Rouhani demanded government-affiliated
institutions (executive bodies) to appoint at least 30% of directors and senior positions in
government institutions to women by the end of his presidency (summer of 2021).6
1
CCPR.3.S.1; CCPR.26.S.1; CCPR.3.P.1; CCPR.26.P.1; CCPR.3..O.1
Articles 5 and 109 of the Constitution, that introduced the qualification of the Supreme Leader.
3
Article 115 of the Constitution.
4
The Guardian Council interpretation of the Article 115: http://www.shora-rc.ir/Portal/home/?news/12410/237109/18595/
5
The Article 94 of the Constitution.
6
https://p.dw.com/p/2ie1y
2
1